Definition

Noun: 1. A criminal offense involving sexual intercourse with a person who is below the legally defined age of consent, regardless of whether the act was consensual. This legal term specifies that a person is deemed incapable of giving legal consent due to their age, making the act illegal even if it was not forced.

Usage

• The term is used primarily in legal, law enforcement, and social service contexts to describe a specific category of sexual crime.
• It is a formal, technical term and is not used in casual conversation.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The 21-year-old was charged with statutory rape after it was discovered his girlfriend was only 15.
  • The law defines statutory rape as sexual contact with anyone under the age of 16.
  • The case was complicated because, although the minor testified it was consensual, the prosecutor pursued a statutory rape charge based on the age difference.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Distinction: The charge of statutory rape exists separately from forcible rape. The core element is the victim's age, not the use of force or coercion.
• Romeo and Juliet Laws: Some jurisdictions have exceptions or reduced penalties for cases where both participants are close in age and one is slightly below the age of consent. These are often colloquially referred to as "Romeo and Juliet laws."

Variants and Related Words

• Age of Consent (noun phrase): The minimum age at which a person is considered legally competent to consent to sexual activity.
• Carnal Knowledge of a Minor (noun phrase): A formal, often archaic, legal phrase synonymous with statutory rape.

Synonyms

• Legal: Carnal knowledge of a minor (archaic/formal).
• General/Descriptive: Sexual assault of a minor (this is a broader category that includes statutory rape).

Important Notes

• Not an Idiom or Phrasal Verb: "Statutory rape" is a fixed legal compound noun. It should not be broken down or interpreted by the individual meanings of "statutory" and "rape" in isolation.
• Severity: It is a serious felony offense in most jurisdictions.

Noun

1. sexual intercourse with a person (girl or boy) who has not reached the age of consent (even if both parties participate willingly)